Protected landscapes

National Landscapes

National Landscapes is the name now used for the UK's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The National Landscapes Association, which took that name in November 2023, says there are 46 of them across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland the official pages still use the title Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This is a selection of 21, chosen because they are near our guides or often visited. 10 overlap a Britlens guide. For the full list, see the association's map and list (opens in new tab). National parks are on a separate page.

Arlington Row, a terrace of Cotswold stone cottages at Bibury, beside a path and garden
The Cotswolds (Cotswolds)
Cliffs and turquoise sea at Bedruthan Steps on the north Cornwall coast
Cornwall (Cornwall)
Durdle Door limestone arch and its curving beach on the Dorset coast
The Jurassic Coast (Dorset)

England

See also England at a glance.

Across England and Wales

Wales

See also Wales at a glance.

Northern Ireland

See also Northern Ireland at a glance.

In our guides

Dover Castle from the air, above the town and the sea
Dover (Kent Downs)
Cromer Pier and its pavilion seen from above, with waves breaking on the beach
Cromer & Sheringham (Norfolk Coast)
Rhossili Bay and Worm's Head on the Gower Peninsula
Gower & Swansea (Abertawe) (Gower / Gŵyr)

Sources

Each description is our summary of the National Landscapes Association page for that landscape, read on 2026-11-01. Figures are as those pages give them.

  1. National Landscapes Association: National Landscapes (opens in new tab). There are 46 National Landscapes in the UK; the full list by nation. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  2. National Landscapes Association: About us (opens in new tab). The association rebranded as the National Landscapes Association in November 2023; National Landscapes are the UK's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  3. National Landscapes Association: Cotswolds (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  4. National Landscapes Association: Chilterns (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  5. National Landscapes Association: Cornwall (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  6. National Landscapes Association: Dorset (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  7. National Landscapes Association: Kent Downs (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  8. National Landscapes Association: Surrey Hills (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  9. National Landscapes Association: Wye Valley / Dyffryn Gwy (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  10. National Landscapes Association: Malvern Hills (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  11. National Landscapes Association: Shropshire Hills (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  12. National Landscapes Association: Forest of Bowland (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  13. National Landscapes Association: Solway Coast (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  14. National Landscapes Association: North Pennines (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  15. National Landscapes Association: Norfolk Coast (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  16. National Landscapes Association: Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  17. National Landscapes Association: Isle of Wight (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  18. National Landscapes Association: Quantock Hills (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  19. National Landscapes Association: Gower / Gŵyr (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  20. National Landscapes Association: Anglesey / Ynys Môn (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  21. National Landscapes Association: Antrim Coast and Glens (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  22. National Landscapes Association: Causeway Coast (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.
  23. National Landscapes Association: Mourne (opens in new tab). Description, figures and the link to the landscape's own website. Checked on 2026-11-01.

Photo credits

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits